I think the fundamental problem is that if you're sitting somewhere bored, maybe at work, maybe elsewhere, you can consume some media about a hobby, and you can make an online purchase of some gear for the hobby, but you often can't actually do the hobby.
It's dumb, but I will catch myself watching a ten minute video on synthsizers while I'm at work, but I would never whip out a synth and spend ten minutes playing it at work. But it's the playing it that actually satisfies the desire. Consuming media just increases it.
It's a dumb loop but it's really hard to get out of because:
1. The activation energy of doing a hobby is always higher than the energy required to just consume media about it, or even buy gear online for it.
2. We're often in environments where it's impossible or inappropriate to do the hobby (work, in line at the DMV, etc.) but where we are able to consume media or make purchases.
Good point. It's a mixed bag. I've gotten back into music making the past few years (hello, mid-life crisis). And while watching synth videos on YouTube can easily encourage me to just be a synthesizer collector and not a music-maker, it has also been really inspiring, taught me a lot, and actually encouraged me to make more.
Finding the right balance can be hard but for me at least, it's a net positive. But I do have to be diligent about asking myself "Will this piece of gear really further my goals, or am I just bored and looking for a seratonin hit?"
Comments
It's not just Reddit. It's all of social media.
I think the fundamental problem is that if you're sitting somewhere bored, maybe at work, maybe elsewhere, you can consume some media about a hobby, and you can make an online purchase of some gear for the hobby, but you often can't actually do the hobby.
It's dumb, but I will catch myself watching a ten minute video on synthsizers while I'm at work, but I would never whip out a synth and spend ten minutes playing it at work. But it's the playing it that actually satisfies the desire. Consuming media just increases it.
It's a dumb loop but it's really hard to get out of because:
1. The activation energy of doing a hobby is always higher than the energy required to just consume media about it, or even buy gear online for it.
2. We're often in environments where it's impossible or inappropriate to do the hobby (work, in line at the DMV, etc.) but where we are able to consume media or make purchases.
It is not entirely fruitless. Doing this with different things you might eventually stumble upon something that will become your hobby.
Good point. It's a mixed bag. I've gotten back into music making the past few years (hello, mid-life crisis). And while watching synth videos on YouTube can easily encourage me to just be a synthesizer collector and not a music-maker, it has also been really inspiring, taught me a lot, and actually encouraged me to make more.
Finding the right balance can be hard but for me at least, it's a net positive. But I do have to be diligent about asking myself "Will this piece of gear really further my goals, or am I just bored and looking for a seratonin hit?"